'Everybody Dies' horror film festival plays in Brea

Orange County filmmakers Jeff Smith and Sara Parrell are the organizers of the second annual "Everybody Dies Horror Film Festival," which starts Friday in Brea.BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

A lot of people missed the horror spoof that promised "Excessive violence!" and "Gratuitous Nudity!" and a "Zero Budget!"

You didn't miss much, but it's important for you to know that the writers, producers and director of that 2007 film festival favorite met while working in the character department at Disneyland.

Two of those Orange County filmmakers – director Jeff C. Smith and producer Sara Parrell – did not give up on the movie business after killing off all of the world's stupid teenagers, or at least the ones stupid enough to gather in a haunted house for a séance.

Last year, Smith and Parrell, both 37, used the experience they picked up while trying to sell their movie on the festival circuit to start their own movie festival in Brea. The venture was so popular that they're back again this weekend for another bloody chapter of the "Everybody Dies Horror Film Festival."

They will explain how they came up with that crazy name, and what it takes to run a film festival. They'll also reveal what kind of an opening scene in a horror movie always makes them cringe.

This year's festival, which takes place Friday and Saturday at the Brea Plaza 5 Cinemas at 453 S. Associated Road, will put the spotlight on two feature films and 16 short films, including one that stars legendary director Tim Burton. Another short was made by local filmmakers, and others were submitted from as far away as France and Bangladesh.

Tickets are available through the website www.everybodydiesfilmfest.com, and you must be 18 to see everybody die. You can buy a one-night or a two-night pass. Different films are shown each night. Among the titles this year are "Attack of the Killer Mutant Chickens," "Braineater" and "Orange County Hill Killers."

By the way, when she's not organizing film festivals and making movies, Parrell works as an event planner, while Smith is still creating magic at the Magic Kingdom.

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER:How did you come up with the name?

JEFF SMITH: Well, there are two reasons. The first is that it is a funny critique of a typical horror story. There is a this, there is a that, and in the end, everybody dies. The second reason is that the tone of the movies we show at our festival is fun. There is a sense of humor to a lot of these films so we wanted a funny title. We could just have easily called it the Orange County Horror Film Festival, but we thought that the filmmakers we wanted to draw here would be drawn by the title "Everybody Dies." We wanted to narrow the niche to movies that are fun, but the violence is over the top and there is nudity for no reason.

SARA PARRELL: We get a lot of cover letters with submissions that say: "You're going to love our movie because everybody dies." They get the sense of humor.

OCR:How did you start a film festival?

JEFF: We kind of approached it backwards. We knew how we tried to get into festivals, so we went to the other side. Instead of us going to certain websites, and applying to festivals, we put the word out that we were a festival, and filmmakers sent their applications to us.

SARA: We became part of a database that filmmakers go on to find festivals. Our page describes our festival, so that filmmakers can upload their short right there digitally, or they can mail it to us directly.

OCR:There are five screens at the theater complex, but why do you use only one of them?

SARA: We take up the largest one, and it is at the end of the complex, so we have our own hallway and exit. A lot of festivals you go to use a ballroom in a hotel or warehouse with their own screen and projector. Being able to use a real movie theater is great, and filmmakers love it.

Orange County filmmakers Jeff Smith and Sara Parrell are the organizers of the second annual "Everybody Dies Horror Film Festival," which starts Friday in Brea. BARRY KOLTNOW, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Noted director Tim Burton stars in a film short called "Vampires Kiss/Blood Inside," which will be shown Saturday at the "Everybody Dies Horror Film Festival" in Brea. COURTESY OF EVERYBODY DIES HORROR FILM FESTIVAL
Lance Henriksen stars in "It's in the Blood," one of the two feature films spotlighted at the "Everybody Dies Horror Film Festival" in Brea. COURTESY OF THE EVERYBODY DIES HORROR FILM FESTIVAL
This animated short is one of several international entries at the festival. COURTESY OF THE EVERYBODY DIES HORROR FILM FESTIVAL
A bloody scene from the French entry "Baby-sitting." COURTESY OF THE EVERYBODY DIES HORROR FILM FESTIVAL.
Machete Betty, played by actress Jamie Carson, is the emcee of the Everybody Dies Horror Film Festival. PHOTO BY ALBERT ORTEGA
A scene from the 2006 film "Stupid Teenagers Must Die!" which will not be shown at the festival in Brea. It was made by the organizers of the festival. COURTESY OF THE EVERYBODY DIES HORROR FILM FESTIVAL

1 of

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.